When a parent moves in

August 20, 2012

Many societies around the world expect that households will be made up of several generations living together. In the United States today, however, this is less common until more recent times. So when a parent comes to live with a couple or a family, there are bound to be some stressful issues.

So many questions surface: Whose house is it? Who sets the lifestyle, the rules? How much togetherness will there be? Is there a way to protect privacy for the parent(s)? For the family? How do parent and couple know what to expect from each other? How does the melded group handle income, expenses and household chores?

The parent of one spouse is by definition the in-law of the other. How do they get along? How will that child juggle the roles of child and spouse to mediate and try to keep everyone happy? There may be difficulties in the marriage or between generations, there can be conflict. Seeking the guidance of a family counselor can help families work through issues and resentments. Should this be an area of concern in your family life, contact a counselor of your choice.

Presented as a community service by the Rev. Warren Watts, Tri-County Pastoral Counseling Service, Martinsburg.